First year taking son out on boat

[Ciscovet]

Well you guys, I think that I am finally experienced enough and more importantly my son is old enough to take out. I am looking for advice on toddler PFD's and any other life experience you guys might have. He is 16 months as of now. My issue is that he is big for his size(He is 33 in and about 26 lb's ) so I am worried about the fitting of the PFD. He is also very active and can be a pain in the butt. i'm afraid that he is going to not want to wear the thing. I plan on getting him used to it in a swimming pool. One of my friends recommended a Lil' legends PFD. What do you guys think?

 

[CILO]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

how bout stopping by a west marine and picking their brain. they are pricey but i think the knowledge of the staff (at least in my opinion) can be helpful.

 

[gddavid]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

The Lil' Lengends is a good recomendation (my brother used one for my nephew), the Sterns Classic Infant is very similar and good as well (I used this one with my girls). The first jacket I tried for my oldest girl was a neoprene sterns infant vest that fit a bit different and I thought might be a little better than the more traditional styles but it was not. Her short little neck barely made it thought the opening and her chin was in constant contact with the vest, we switched to the classic infant and it was much better and she stayed cooler.

Your son is a a good age where the jackets are a little more comfortable for them. When they are really little and can't stand up well, the jackets look like they are trying to ride up around the neck like a turtleneck even with the crotch strap as tight as you dare. When they can sit up the jackets seem to bother them less. Don't worry if he is a little uncomfortable, he will get over it pretty quickly and then just accept it as part of going out on the boat.

Aside from the life jackets, the next biggest issue with kids in my opinion is loading and unloading. What works best for my family is to load my wife and girls (in their vests) in the boat at the staging area, flip on the blower and launch with them already in place. My wife does not run the boat (yet) but I just walk the boat out of the way, tie it up and she wrangles the kids while I park the suv and trailer.

Don't expect to make full day excursions when they are little and be mentally prepared to head home early if you son and more importantly his mother has had enough. Good luck and have a good season.

 

[bspeth]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

I like the stearns as well mine are 3 and four. They have a handle on the flap and you can hoist them out of the water or relocate them on the boat with it. works like a flak jacket too when they biff it when you take off,and then again when you slow down to fast when you notice they biffed,and again when you speed back up so you don't swamp your boat,at this point the admiral will tell you what to do.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: First year taking son out on boat

Be ready for lots of short trips and sudden evacuation off the water.

train him early to want to wear the PFD and anticipate a boat ride--it's no different to training a dog to want to put on the leash and collar and go for a walk. No I take that back training a dog is easier.

Focus on what keeps him happy. Snacks and juice. Keep him cool and out of the sun (or feet warm for winter boating). Snacks and juice. Snacks and juice. Snacks and juice. Snacks and juice.

By the end of the summer he will be ready for some responsibilities: whale lookout, holding the bow line while underway, etc.

If you trailer the boat, think through how you will contain him at the ramp--that place is far more dangerous than out on the water. A recent spirited discussion questioned putting him in the tow vehicle due to risk (slight IMO) of the vehicle rolling down the ramp and sinking.

 

[aspeck]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

Kids, Infants & Toddlers Life Jackets, Vests, & PFDs

Lot's to choose from ... the weight is the key in getting one that will fit and provide the safety and comfort you need. Lot's of good ones out there. As for taking your cute little guy out on the boat, keep the initial trips short and fun. Make it an exciting event, not one where he has to scolded all the time. At the first sign of weariness, bring him to shore and let him run, rest, whatever.

I grew up on a boat ... I was about 8 months when I had my first boat trip. I am told that was the best way to get me to go to sleep, go for a boat ride. To this day I love an afternoon nap on the boat! :joyous:

 

[Natesms]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

Puddle Jumpers are the most comfortable if he's big enough by summer and they count as PFD. I think they start at 30 pounds.

I prepped my nephews weeks before they set foot on the boat about life jackets, but they were 3 years old and could understand. At that age it's tougher for sure. Those infant life jackets are so cumbersome they just seem to hate all of them.

Shade is key. I can't remember life without a boat and the first 5 years of my memories were sleeping in storage compartment under the bow of our old IMP. My mom used to say the boat was the best babysitter she had.

The ramp is the most stressful part. Have a plan. Someone takes him well away from the ramp and road so they can play, or an adult and child strap themselves into the tow rig to stay put in the A/C. That goes for both loading and unloading. For me I found it quickest and easiest to let the grandparents entertain the kids and I just handle everything regarding the truck and boat on my own. Let's me concentrate on launching and loading quickly and then loading everyone back in. Our routine is when we get to the ramp I drop them off at a nearby shelter to strap into life jackets. That usually takes them longer than it does for me to launch the boat

 

[Ciscovet]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

Thanks for all the wonderful replies. I will look into the vests. Luckily for us my boat is stored in a marina. I live in an area where it takes me about 30 min to get to Anclote Key. My goal is to be able to get him there and on the beach having a good but safe time.

 

[Natesms]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

One less thing to worry about with it stored at the marina. That's our routine as well, in the boat, direct to beach, sand castles. Not much boating but it's a lot of fun.

I use my dogs to help keep the nephews in line once they got older. Give them the leash to "walk the dog" and it keeps them focused and they won't wander any farther away than the leash is long.

 

[gm280]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

My 1 1/2 cents worth... :facepalm:

Not reading all these comments but merely skipping through them, I have one other issue besides a Personal Floatation Device to offer. Not knowing what type boat you have or it's abilities, be very careful with your boat's speed when out. And some eye protection is a really good thing as well. The speed is pretty important because at even slower speeds it hampers their ability to breath properly. It would be like sticking their head out the car window going 25, 30, 35 or more MPH. And eye protection could save a bug in the eye issue as well. The reason I say all this, is because one time I was taking my brother-in-law out fishing with me in my bass boat. Not knowing he had breathing issues, I was moving along fairly fast (50 plus or more). Not wide open, but still move nicely. When I stopped. he took a huge breath and afterwards told me he simply couldn't breath with the air hitting him in the face. So even a slower speed could be critical to smaller children riding along... I know I should have known better, but seriously I simply didn't...now I do!

 

[JimS123]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

We used age appropriate Stearns for both our boys. All were tested first at the beach to be sure they could wear them and float properly.

My firstborn was born in November and was in the boat at 7 months old. My second was born in March and was a boatman at 3 months old.

We always emphasized that they couldn't walk around unless we were in the canal at no wake idle, and they sat down at cruise speed. The PFDs were worn 100% when in the boat. Just like the car seat - there was no option. Never had an issue because they knew if there was one they wouldn't go in the boat next time.

We had a 2' long plastic tugboat that I put a 25' line on. When in the canal we would tow that behind us. The boys got to hold the line and be "captain" and that kept them interested for hours. I think giving then a little freedom at that time helped teach them the manners that were needed when we were not at idle.

When at cruise speed they always sat behind the windshield.

 

[Ciscovet]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

WOW you had your 7 and 3 month olds playing captain on the canal. That's impressive.:happy::laugh:

 

[lncoop]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

Wow, he is a cute little feller. That's all I got! Good luck!

 

[thumpar]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

We took our son out for the first time at about that age. I will add to the list to make sure you have sunscreen and bring an umbrella for shade. He is almost 6 now and loves the boat. Having him keep his life jacket on has never been a problem since he grew up with it.

 

[JimS123]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

WOW you had your 7 and 3 month olds playing captain on the canal. That's impressive.:happy::laugh:

I was explaining how old they were when they first started boating. That's part of the reason they both were well behaved in a boat - because they got started early.

I think they were about 2 or 3 (yrs) when they got to "play" with the toy boat.

 

[Ciscovet]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

I was explaining how old they were when they first started boating. That's part of the reason they both were well behaved in a boat - because they got started early.

I think they were about 2 or 3 (yrs) when they got to "play" with the toy boat.

I know, I was just messing with ya.....a little iboats humor

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: First year taking son out on boat

start them early doing things on the boat, even driving while in your lap. Never too young to learn; often too old to teach.

If you haven't done so already, and especially with young children aboard, it is crucial that your wife know how and be able to do everything that pertains to the boat. it is dangerous not to. I have never understood all the people I see or read about on these forums whose wives do nothing--and worse, their teen-aged children who do nothing and ought to be doing everything. Must be an inland thing.

As I said, the pier and ramp are the most dangerous. A technique I learned when I ferried boat loads of little guys around is when around the pier, the rule is simple: "Hands in your lap." That way, they have to be sitting down and their hands won't get splinters or worse, crushed.

 

[Outsider]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

Do not get a PFD with room to grow, it won't fit properly until he grows. Set the 'do and don't' rules early, and don't waiver. And above all, remember you're going out with him. When he's ready to go home, so should you be ...

 

[MRS]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

I have had this photo on before but still love the memories of that moment. Like others said when he is ready and not having fun time to go. Never to young to take the kids just make it fun cause really they are in charge of the day and we are in charge of there safety.

 

[Buh-Bye]

Re: First year taking son out on boat

I have a daughter who is 18 months now and we took her out on the lake a decent amount last summer. I tried to get her used to the vest early by letting her see daddy put one on when she put hers on. I would also echo what others said about being prepared for shorter trips. We had often done all day trips prior to having kids but with her we were lucky to get a couple hours. Personally, I think we would have been better with a cuddy or other boat with a cabin other than our bow-rider for little kids so they have a place to sleep / rest out of the sun. We do have a bimini but its not the same.

We also have a little boy just over a week old now which could significantly impact our summer boating. I would be interested in any other tips folks in similar situations might have. Howver, that may be a topic better suited in another forum discussion.